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Vertical Dance Returns to Vedauwoo Aug. 22-23

August 10, 2009 — The University of Wyoming's 2009 Snowy Range Summer Theatre and Dance
Festival concludes Aug. 22-23 with three vertical dance performances at
Vedauwoo.

In addition to watching dancers twist and turn from ropes dangling
from Vedauwoo's rock formations, the audience will listen to a musical
story of the history of the rocks, animals and plants in the area,
narrated by Australian storyteller Paul Taylor. He wrote the story for
this occasion, a creation tale that includes aspects of Aboriginal and
Native American stories.

Performances begin at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, and at 2
p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23. Tickets cost $6, and may be purchased at the Fine
Arts ticket office or the Union ticket office. For more information,
call the Fine Arts ticket office at (307)766-6666.

"Each year, we try to bring a new story or idea to the vertical dance
performance at Vedauwoo," says Margaret Wilson, University of Wyoming
dance professor who choreographs the event. "We are delighted to have
Paul working with us this year. The story will add a narrative component
that will augment the choreography."

The performance area is 14 miles east of Laramie on Interstate 80 off
the Vedauwoo exit. Shuttle buses will take patrons from the outer, free
parking area outside Vedauwoo to the trailhead leading to the
performance setting. Patrons should plan to leave Laramie at least one
hour before the start of the performance.

Vertical dance is a unique blend of modern dance using ropes and the
natural contours of rock to allow free-flowing aerial movement. Since
1998, the presentations in the natural rock formations at Vedauwoo have
offered audiences a breathtaking set to view dance, says Wilson. She is
assisted by Neil Humphrey, UW geology and geophysics professor, who
coordinates the rigging and choreography.

Photo:
Kathryn Rochelle dances in the air during a previous University of
Wyoming vertical dance performance at Vedauwoo. (Skip Harper Photo)